The Banished Villainous Noble Son Who Was Used as a Stepping Stone in the Original Work Awakens to Combat and Destroys the Laws of the World - Episode 63: Monsters and Groups

Episode 63: Monsters and Groups

The time was nearing noon. The moment I stepped out of the inn, cool air brushed my cheek. The light shining on the cobblestones of the street stretched out long shadows.

The road leading to the south gate was already lively with merchants and travelers. The creaking of carriages, the smell of barrels of cargo, the voices passing by.

While walking among them, I repeated in my head the request I had accepted. Along with the words of the receptionist.

(Monster distribution has been unnaturally skewed, huh.)

A faint caution remained deep in my chest. It wasn’t a bad request for both earning money and training. But letting my guard down would be dangerous.

In front of the south gate, several adventurers were already gathered. Probably another party that had taken on the same request.

They were exchanging light banter. They were checking over their weapons at their waists and their luggage one last time. That cheerful atmosphere looked like it was relaxing their tension a little too much.

Beyond the gate was the highway. An important road connecting the royal capital and the southern region — paved stone continued for a while. But eventually, it turned into a dirt road. And in the distance gentle hills spread out.

(Now then… what kind of faces will you show me?)

I tapped my sword lightly at my waist and moved my feet forward.

About two hours had passed since following along the highway. The maintained road gradually became rough. The forest at both sides closed in. When the sound of footsteps changed to stepping on soil, at the same time I caught a slight change in the air.

(There’s a presence.)

My hand naturally reached for the hilt. Deep in the forest — as if going against the flow of wind, something was watching me. The senses that were sharpened through accumulated battle experience. They picked up on a slight killing intent and the oddness in the scent of the earth.

That instant, the thicket burst open. And a gray beast leapt out. A wolf… but larger than the monsters I had faced before. It had black streaks running through its fur. Its eyes were red and cloudy. Its drool was dripping in strings.

It bared its fangs and charged. I stepped forward once, twisted my body just before it entered range, and held my sword low. The blade grazed its throat. The beast’s posture collapsed. With the return swing, I cut the tendon in its hind leg. And the wolf collapsed to the ground kicking up dirt.

But immediately, a second one appeared from another direction. With a low growl, its movements linked — as if they were coordinating.

(They move in packs… and their coordination is far too refined.)

The third, the fourth. From between the trees, gray shadows leapt out one after another. The total was six. Normally, this was a number for a mid-sized party to challenge.

I gripped my sword tighter. Maybe it was the effect of the “Constant Activity” skill, but my breathing and vision stayed steady. I caught every movement of the enemies without error. No, the “Indomitable” skill must be at work too.

I deflected the claw of one, drove an elbow into its open chest, then swept it with my returning sword. Dust rose. The sound of metal echoed through the forest.

Before long, the last one fell. Breathing unchanged, I searched for signs around me. No more moving shadows.

This beast was, if I recall… in the game it showed up around the mid-point. But its experience and dropped materials weren’t very good. If your growth wasn’t kept up, it could unexpectedly make you struggle. It was a monster that often irritated players.

In fact, even after striking it with the sword, it didn’t go down in one hit — it took several blows before finally falling. But that’s what battle is. The thrill with every swing of the sword. The sense of reading the enemy’s path and dodging. The sensations you can only get through combat are like sweet fruit.

—But after it was over, a strange discomfort caught in my chest. Each movement had been far too refined.

(If I think of it as C rank equivalent, then…)

If I considered them C rank equivalent, maybe this discomfort was just my imagination. Still, for mere wild monsters, it felt strange.

◆

After taking materials from the monsters and fulfilling the request… by the time the sun began to lean west,

Since that first battle, the strange discomfort only kept growing stronger.

Though the scenery before my eyes didn’t change, I could feel that the presence of monsters was unnaturally skewed. Some of them were even species not usually seen in the southern region.

It felt as if someone was deliberately moving groups of them.

…The further I went, the heavier the air became. At the roadside were crushed grass, gouged soil, and traces left of something passing through just a few hours earlier.

The footprints were unnaturally uniform. Mixed in them were not only monster prints but also hoofprints.

(Horses?)

At that moment, another sound mixed into the wind. The hard clash of metal, short commanding voices, neighs of horses.

(…Someone’s fighting.)

When I listened carefully, those sounds weren’t like a quarrel or skirmish between adventurers. They were more orderly. It had matching footsteps of people moving under a command structure. A group, most likely.

I silenced my steps and moved toward the sound. Hiding in the shade of the forest, I peeked through the gaps in the leaves.

There, knights clad in silver and deep-green armor had formed ranks. They were setting up to block the highway.

The vanguard lured in monsters. Spear points thrust forward in unison.

The rear guard held shields. And from the small gaps archers loosed arrows. Every movement wasted nothing; it was plain they were a trained organization.

On their breastplates was the crest symbolizing the royal capital — two swords crossed, with a design of a castle wall behind.

(The royal capital’s knight order, huh.)

I could never forget something I had seen so many times.

The knight order. Why they were here, I couldn’t guess yet. Some sort of duty perhaps.

In the center stood a figure who stood out clearly. Tall, wearing silver armor that covered the shoulders down. He had more intricate detail than the rest. A deep crimson cloak on his back. Half his face was hidden in the shadow of his helm. But sharp eyes scanned the area. He was moving the whole unit with the slightest gestures.

(That man…)

That presence and leadership could not belong to just any soldier. Without taking my eyes off him, I quietly observed from the forest’s shadow.

—No doubt about it. He was Reinhardt Granze, the Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Luxteria. And he was one of the original story’s characters.

Original Author’s Comment:

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Thank you very much for reading until the end!!!

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I’d be happy if you’ll look forward to the next chapter too!!

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